Our happy state, under one head more near
United. But to grant it thee injust,

That equal over equals monarch reign:
Thyself, though great and glorious, dost thou count,
Or all angelic nature join'd in one,

Equal to him begotten-son? by whom,

As by his word, the mighty father made

All things, even thee; and all the spirits of heaven
By him created in their bright degrees,

Crown'd them with glory, and to their glory nam'd
Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues, powers,
Essential powers; nor by his reign obscur'd,
But more illustrious made, since he, the head,
One of our number thus reduc'd becomes;
His laws our laws; all honour to him done
Returns our own. Cease then this impious rage,
And tempt not these; but hasten to appease
The incensed father, and the incensed son,
While pardon may be found in time besought.
«So spake the fervent angel; but his zeal
None seconded, as out of season judg'd
Or singular and rash: whereat rejoic'd
The apostate, and, more haughty, thus replied:

— « That we were form'd then, say'st thou? and the work Of secondary hands, by task transferr'd

From father to his son? strange point and new! Doctrine, which we would know whence learn'd: who saw When this creation was? remember'st thou

Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being?
We know no time when we were not as now;
Know none before us, self-begot, self-rais'd
By our own quickening power, when fatal course

Nostra felicità, sotto un sol duce
Uniti più. Ma sia', tel dono, ingiusto
Ch' eguale sopra eguai monarca regni:
Crederes' te, benchè alto e glorioso,
O l'angeliche nature in un congiunte,
Eguali a lui Figlio unico? Per lui,
Qual verbo suo, creò il possente Padre
Tutto, te ancora; e i spiriti del cielo
Tutti ei creò ne' gradi lor lucenti,
Di gloria coronolli, e da lor gloria
Nomolli troni, re, virtudi, prenci
E posse per essenza; nò, esto regno

Ne illustra non ne aduggia, or ch' ei qual duce
Nostro, si fa del nostro numer uno;

Sua legge è nostra; l'onor dato a lui

E nostro onor. Dall' empia rabbia or cessa
Nè ci tentar; ma l'adirato Padre
Affrettati a placare e il Figlio irato,
Mentre perdono anco implorar t'è dato. »

« Caldo l' Ange) parlò; ma il zelo suo
Niun secondo; chè intempestivo parve
O molto strano o audace: lieto a tanto
Il rubello, e più altero, sì ripiglia:

«Noi dicestu creati dunque? Ed opra Di secondaria man, per dato incarco

Dal Padre al Figlio suo? Straniera e nuova
Dottrina! E noi vorrem saperne il fonte:
Chi vide tal crear? Ricordi il tuo
Farsi tu allor che esser ti die' il Fattore ?
Noi no sappiam chè non erám come ora;
Niun pria di noi sappiam per nostra viva
Virtude nati e surti, quando il fato

Had circled his full orb, the birth mature

Of this our native heaven, ethereal sons.
Our puissance is our own; our own right hand
Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try
Who is our equal: then thou shalt behold
Whether by supplication we intend
Address, and to begirt the Almighty throne
Beseeching or besieging. This report,
These tidings carry to the anointed King;
And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.

« He said; and, as the sound of waters deep,
Hoarse murmur echo'd to his words applause
Through the infinite host; nor less for that
The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone
Encompass'd round with foes, thus answer'd bold.
« O alienate from God, O spirit accurs'd,
Forsaken of all good! I see thy fall
Determin'd, and thy hapless crew involv'd
In this perfidious fraud, contagion spread
Both of thy crime and punishment: henceforth
No more be troubled how to quit the yoke:
Of God's Messiah; those indulgent laws
Will not be now vouchsaf'd; other decrees
Against thee are gone forth, without recall;
That golden sceptre, which thou didst reject,
Is now an iron rod to bruise and break
Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise;
Yet not for thy advice or threats I fly
These wicked tents devoted, lest the wrath
Impendent, raging into sudden flame,
Distinguish not for soon expect to feel
His thunder on thy head, devouring fire.

Compieva il giro suo, maturo parto
D'esto a noi ciel nativo, etereo germe.
È in noi nostro potere; il nostro braccio
Ne additerà gloriosi fatti, e a prová
Vedrem chi egual ci fia. Saprai tu allora
Se mente abbiam tornarci in pregó umile
E intorno cingere il possente trono
Supplicatori o assediator. Va, narra,
Cotai novelle arreca all' unto Rege;
Fuggi pria che al fuggir si chiuda il varco.

Disse; e qual suon d'acque profonde, un rauco
Mormorare eccheggiò ai suoi detti e plause
Per l'oste innumerabil; né minore
Però l'ardente Serafino impavido
Benché sol tra nemici fier rispose:

O a Dio ribelle, o maladetto spirto
E scusso d'ogni ben! La tua ruina
Io certa veggo, e tue infelici torme
Travolte ai doli tuoi, serpendo il tosco
Di colpa tua e di punizion: omai
Cessa gli affanni di sottrarti al giogo
Del Dio Messia; queste si amanti leggi
Degne di te non son; altri decreti
Contro te uscir non revocandi mai;
Quell' aureo scettro che spregiasti, ferrea
Verga or ti fia, per conculcare e frangere
La tua ribellion. Bene avvisasti;

Pur non per tue minacce o avvisi io fuggo
Queste imprecate tende, ché il furore

Vicin non scoppi in subitana fiamma
E me non colga: ché io già già al tuo capo
Parmi il suo tuon sentir, vorace foco.

Then who created thee lamenting learn,

When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know. »

<< So spake the seraph Abdiel, faithful found Among the faithless, faithful only he; Among innumerable false, unmov'd, Unshaken, unseduc'd, unterrified, His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal; Nor number, nor example, with him wrought To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind, Though single. From amidst them forth he pass'd Long way through hostile scorn, which he sustain'd Superior, nor of violence fear'd aught;

And, with retorted scorn, his back he turn'd

On those proud towers to swift destruction doom'd.